Notre Dame-Alabama picks

We’re down to the last game of the season, and as most observers—though admittedly not me—expected in August, Alabama is playing on Monday night in Miami to win its third BCS National Championship Game in four years (8 PM ET, ESPN). As no one expected, Notre Dame is joining them. As we’ve done for all the major bowl games, let’s walk the path each team trod through the season and examine how the Tide and Irish match up.